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Sounds, spelling and accents
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Spanish spelling is very regular. Learning how letters sound helps with reading aloud in the speaking exam and with the dictation in the listening exam.
Vowels, h, j and g
Vowels a, e, i, o, u always keep the same short sound.
h is silent: hola, hermano.
j, and g before e or i, make a throaty h sound: jamón, gente, girar.
g before a, o, u is hard: gato. gue, gui are hard too and the u is silent: guerra, guitarra.
h is silent: hola, hermano.
j, and g before e or i, make a throaty h sound: jamón, gente, girar.
g before a, o, u is hard: gato. gue, gui are hard too and the u is silent: guerra, guitarra.
c, qu, z, ll, ñ, r and rr
c before e or i and z sound like 'th' in most of Spain, or 's' in Latin America: cine, zapato.
ca, co, cu = k. que, qui = k with a silent u: queso, quince.
ll (calle) and y (yo) sound alike for most speakers. ñ = 'ny': niño, España.
rr and an r at the start of a word are rolled: perro, radio. b and v sound the same.
ca, co, cu = k. que, qui = k with a silent u: queso, quince.
ll (calle) and y (yo) sound alike for most speakers. ñ = 'ny': niño, España.
rr and an r at the start of a word are rolled: perro, radio. b and v sound the same.
Stress and written accents
Words ending in a vowel, n or s stress the second-to-last syllable: casa, hablan.
Other words stress the last syllable: hablar, ciudad.
A written accent marks an exception: café, canción, lápiz, música.
Accents also distinguish words: sí (yes) / si (if), él (he) / el (the), qué? / que.
Other words stress the last syllable: hablar, ciudad.
A written accent marks an exception: café, canción, lápiz, música.
Accents also distinguish words: sí (yes) / si (if), él (he) / el (the), qué? / que.
You hear a word that sounds like 'keen-seh' and means fifteen. How is it spelled?
- A k sound before i is spelled qu.
- The 'th' or 's' sound before e is spelled c.
- Ends in a vowel, stress on the second-to-last syllable: no accent needed.
Answer: quince
h is silent; j and ge / gi are throaty; que / qui = k; ce / ci / z = th or s; ñ = ny; b and v sound the same. Words ending in a vowel, n or s stress the second-to-last syllable unless an accent shows otherwise.
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